PPMA Raises Awareness of Active Phone Scam Targeting Podiatrists

PPMA wants to make you aware of an active phone scam targeting podiatrists and other DEA-registered clinicians. Callers are misrepresenting themselves as DEA agents and are making false claims that you are under investigation. They may pressure you to pay immediately to avoid being referred to the FBI.

Here is some information to help you and your staff prepare to recognize the scam:

• Scammers call or send false letters saying you are under investigation for violations of federal drug laws, aiming to collect personal information or demand payments, to avoid federal investigations.
• In one reported case, a podiatrist was kept on the phone for 40 minutes and accused of money laundering, drug trafficking, and even overdose deaths, based on an invented story about a car full of controlled substances linked to his name.

Here are some tips to help you identify the common red flags:

• Be on the look out for fake names and badge numbers, or the names of real senior DEA officials.
• Be mindful of an urgent, aggressive tone, with threats which may include arrests, prosecution, or revocation of your DEA number.
• Callers may demand large payments be wired or provided via gift card.
• Your phone's caller ID will not render a legitimate agency.

The following tips may prevent data breaches and losses for yourself and others:

• Do not provide the caller with any financial compensation or gift cards under any circumstance. If you have already done so, notify your bank and keep records (call logs, letters, and transaction details).
• Report the call to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov and to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. In the event you have already shared a Social Security number or DEA registration number, visit identitytheft.gov for steps to protect yourself.
• Recognize that a legitimate investigation will result in a notification by an official letter, while being mindful the scammers are in fact sending letters as well.
• If you have been contacted, we encourage you to notify our office so we can help keep other members informed and prevent any data breaches or financial losses.

In conclusion, recognize that DEA personnel will never contact registrants or the public to demand payments or request personal or sensitive information. The DEA does not typically call registrants about investigative matters.  Please share this alert with your office staff, who may answer these calls.

As always, please contact our office with any questions.